Poll: Most want trains silenced






Results are in for the
Helena, Mont., Citizens Council survey on a quiet zone in the city. More than
half of the respondents described noise from trains as a "quality of life issue,"
the Independent Record reports. The majority of people who responded to a Helena
Citizens Council survey this summer supported the idea of using taxpayer money
to implement a quiet zone in the city, saying the sounds of train horns pose
quality of life issues for area residents, especially at night.

Nordco expands online parts resources






February 14, 2001

Nordco Inc. has
greatly expanded online parts information and resources with the addition of
its popular "All-Inclusive Machine DVD" to the company’s Website at www.nordco.com. The online database includes searchable mechanical, electrical and
hydraulic data on all current Nordco Maintenance-of-Way equipment, along with
many of the company’s older machines.

 

Agreement expected to lead to improved Amtrak Cascades service






February 14, 2001

The Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and BNSF signed an agreement that
ultimately will result in more frequent and more reliable Amtrak Cascades
service between Seattle and Portland.

NJ Transit seeks federal funds for bridge






February 14, 2001

NJ Transit has applied for
$885 million in new federal funding to pay for renewal and replacement of aging
components of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between Trenton, N.J., and
Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, the Times Herald-Record reports.

Norfolk, Va., envisions one hub to link seven modes of transportation






February 14, 2001

Norfolk’s transportation
system is growing up, with light rail starting next May and passenger rail two
years later, the Virginian-Pilot reports. So its connections to each other need
to mature, too. Toward that end, officials envision a $16-million "multi-modal"
transportation center at Harbor Park downtown, where commuters can move between
light rail, passenger rail, bus, ferry, bike and taxi.

Various groups applaud President’s transportation investment plan






February 14, 2001

President Barack Obama
announced a robust and reformed transportation infrastructure plan on Labor Day
that will focus on fixing America’s roads, railways and runways, investing more
wisely, and establishing a National Infrastructure Bank. In response, Building
America’s Future released the following statement:

California HSR project has new director






February 14, 2001

A former Federal Railroad
Administration deputy administrator, Cliff Eby, has been named interim program
director for the California high-speed rail project. The California high-speed
rail project, with an estimated total price tag of $40 billion, envisions
220-mph passenger trains connecting San Francisco with Los Angeles.

Rebuilding Chester Branch a boon to Morris County, N.J., businesses






February 14, 2001

A pair of businesses that
flank the Chester Branch railroad have said they plan to take advantage of the rail
line that is being rebuilt with federal stimulus funding, the Daily Record
reports.

BART West Oakland elevators to close temporarily for earthquake safety work






February 14, 2001

As part of BART’s system-wide
Earthquake Safety Program, work is in progress to strengthen West Oakland,
Calif., Station against earthquakes. The agency will need to close both
elevators temporarily. Westbound, platform #1, and Eastbound, platform #2
elevators at West Oakland Station will be temporarily out of service for
electrical work.

Real-time next WMATA train arrival information now available by phone






February 14, 2001

Metrorail customers in the
Washington, D.C., can now get real-time next train arrival information by
phone, in addition to online and via
web-enabled mobile devices. 

Customers
may simply call Metro’s Customer Information phone number, 202-637-7000, and
say "Next Train." They then will be prompted to say a station name or enter the
first four letters of the station name to hear when the next trains will arrive
at the selected station within a 20-minute window. 




Tom Westerman joins TranSystems






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

TranSystems recently
announced that Tom Westerman has joined the company as a senior bridge engineer
and project manager in support of the firm’s architectural, engineering and
planning group focused on the freight railroad and municipality markets. Westerman
brings 27 years experience as a civil engineer in the transportation industry.

Construction Authority issues RFP for $450 million fro Metro Gold Line






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

The Metro Gold Line
Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) in Metropolitan
Los Angeles issued the Request for Proposals for the Foothill Extension Phase
2A light rail Alignment work. The $450-million-plus design-build-finance
project will involve final design, construction and financing of 11.5-miles of
track, utilities, crossings and systems; six stations and multiple bridges; and
a 25-plus-acre light rail maintenance facility. Phase 2A will extend the Metro
Gold Line light rail line from its current terminus in East Pasadena, adding
stations in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa.

Metro to replace track switch to comply with NTSB recommendation






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

Washington, D.C., Metro officials will
replace a track switch to improve rail system safety and conduct several
additional projects between the Takoma and Glenmont Metrorail stations, which
will necessitate the closure of five Red Line stations throughout Labor Day
Weekend, (Sept. 3-7). The track switch replacement is work that has been
recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. 



DOT supplying $3.6 million for Michigan high-speed rail

U.S. Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $3.6 million for the State of Michigan to
begin work on the rehabilitation of the Battle Creek railroad station. The
Department of Transportation will ultimately provide a total of $40 million to
Michigan under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for its high-speed
intercity passenger rail program."

 

UP investing more than $11.5 million in Kansas line






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

Union Pacific will improve Kansas’ transportation
infrastructure by investing more than $11.5 million to improve the rail line
from Topeka, Kan., to Herington, Kan.


Consultant: Tulare County rail line could earn 39-percent profit






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

Profit margins for a
short-haul rail line along the eastern edge of the county could be as high as
39 percent with the right service and marketing, according to a railroad
consultant hired by the Tulare County, Calif., Association of Governments, the
Visalia Times-Delta reports.

Kansas Amtrak expansion narrowed to two routes






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

Transportation planners
have narrowed their proposals for expanded Amtrak passenger rail service across
Kansas to two possible routes, according to the Kansas Reporter. Depending on
which route is chosen, if either of them is, transportation department
officials estimate the service will require either $154 million for
infrastructure and equipment costs, plus a potential $3.2-million annual
operating subsidy paid by Kansas taxpayers, or $476 million for infrastructure
and equipment, plus $8 million annually in state support.

RailWorks names Rolf to lead track division






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

RailWorks Corporation promoted
of Robert Rolf to vice president & general manager of the South Division of
its RailWorks Track Systems subsidiary. Rolf, formerly area manager of
RailWorks Track Services, Inc., based in Bridgeton, Mo., is a licensed,
professional engineer with more than 25 years of railroad construction and
maintenance industry experience. He has been active throughout his career in
industry associations, including the Track Functional Group (Committee #5) of
The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) and
the St. Louis Railway Club.

Smiths Detection wins WMATA contract






DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

Smiths Detection won an
additional five-year contract by the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit
Authority to upgrade and maintain the company’s PROTECT and FirstView
anti-terrorism detection and software systems. PROTECT and FirstView allow
transit authorities to monitor multiple chemical warfare sensors, distribute
command and control responsibilities among agencies and integrate WMATA’s
hundreds of cameras into a manageable system. The upgrade will include expanded
chemical detection libraries and radiological detection capabilities.

Caltrain construction, maintenance update, Sept. 4-10

Work will be done on the
shoring and the foundation for the new pedestrian underpass at the station. The
underpass will connect the north- and southbound platforms, allowing two trains
to pass through the station at the same time and improving safety for
pedestrians in the station. Passengers at the station are boarding the train
from a temporary platform. Passengers are asked to observe all posted signs and
follow direction from identified ambassadors in the station. The temporary
platform will be in use for approximately six months.

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